San Francisco Giants: 2004 MLB trade deadline review

In the days leading up to this year’s MLB trade deadline, we’ll take a look back at San Francisco Giants deadlines past. Next up, the 2004 trade deadline.

The San Francisco Giants had a 44-34 record entering the month of July during the 2004 season, which gave them a 2.5-game lead in the NL West standings.

However, they struggled to a 13-15 record in July and the one move they wound up making ahead of the trade deadline saw them send one of their most reliable relievers packing.

Here’s a look at their July activity:

July 30, 2004: RHP Felix Rodriguez traded to Philadelphia Phillies for OF Ricky Ledee, RHP Alfredo Simon

Felix Rodriguez made 342 appearances and racked up 108 holds while posting a 3.01 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 8.7 K/9 during the five-year span from 1999 to 2003, establishing himself as one of the best setup relievers in baseball.

The 31-year-old had a 3.43 ERA with 13 holds in 53 appearances when the Giants decided to flip him at the trade deadline.

Outfielder Ricky Ledee hit .113/.200/.151 with two extra-base hits in 60 plate appearances in San Francisco following the trade, before signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the offseason.

The real prize of the trade was right-hander Alfredo Simon, who ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the Philadelphia system at the start of the 2004 season, according to Baseball America.

However, he never appeared in the big leagues for the Giants and he was granted free agency following the 2006 season. He eventually found success with the Cincinnati Reds, making the NL All-Star team in 2014.

Summary

The Giants decision to sell one of their top bullpen arms proved to be premature.

They went 34-22 the rest of the way to finish with a 91-71 record. That left them two games back in the NL West and one game behind the Houston Astros for the wild-card spot.

Would they have bridged the gap and made it back to the playoffs with Rodriguez still in the bullpen mix?

Check back here in the days and weeks to come for more San Francisco Giants trade deadline reviews, all culminating in what promises to be a busy 2019 deadline.